The best rookie quarterbacks shine regardless of circumstances. That’s what C.J. Stroud did for the upstart Texans last season and what Jayden Daniels is doing with the Commanders.
Daniels walked into a rebuild when the Commanders drafted him No. 2, and while Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury deserve credit, he’s the one completing 70% of his passes. He’s the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Here’s a look at all four active first-round quarterbacks:
No. 1 overall pick: Bears QB Caleb Williams
It has been volatile for Williams, whose offensive coordinator and coach got fired in-season and whose own performance has been erratic. He had a 65.3 passer rating his first three games, 122.8 the next three, 64.7 the next three, 99.2 the next three and now hasn’t reached 200 yards in either of the last two.
No. 2 overall pick: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
Daniels is fourth in the NFL in completion percentage (70.5), 10th in passer rating (101.2) and has the Commanders closing in on a wild-card spot. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for six.
No. 3 overall pick: Patriots QB Drake Maye
Maye is showing promise on a terrible team and has completed 81.1% of his passes and posted a 98.1 passer rating over his last two games.
No. 12 overall pick: Broncos QB Bo Nix
Nix leads all rookies with 20 touchdown passes and has the Broncos in position to clinch a playoff berth this week for the first time since 2015.
